Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Outdoor Lighting in Caldwell, ID (2026)

3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Caldwell, Idaho, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Dark Sky Rules

Outdoor lighting in Caldwell's D-CC and D-CB downtown districts must meet dark sky standards: fixtures over 15 feet need full cutoff shields, floodlights are banned except in alleys with sensor controls, and uplighting must be shielded from the sky by a roof overhang or similar structure.

Caldwell Downtown Dark Sky Lighting Rules

Some Restrictions

Caldwell City Code § 10-08-09-4

(1) Height: All fixtures over fifteen feet (15') in height shall be fitted with a full cutoff shield. (2) Floodlights: Floodlight fixtures shall be prohibited downtown with the exception of within alleys. Floodlight fixtures shall be set to only go on when triggered by activity on the property (sensor activated) and to go off within five (5) minutes after activation has ceased. (3) Upligh...

Light Trespass & Shielding

Caldwell caps light trespass from multi-family development sites at 0.1 foot-candle measured five feet above grade onto a neighboring parcel, and requires ground-directed, shielded fixtures under the Multi-Family Architectural Design Standards of Section 10-14-03.

Caldwell, ID Multi-Family Light Trespass Limit

Some Restrictions

Caldwell City Code § 10-14-03

E. Lighting: ... Lighting design should consider the appropriate placement and quantity flight to provide for security and aesthetic appreciation while avoiding glare and excessive brightness as follows: 1. Lighting shall be directed toward the ground and include shields to minimize any glare or light trespassing. ... ... 5. No light trespassing above 0.1 foot-candles is permitted from any parc...

Billboard Lighting

Every illuminated sign in Caldwell, including freeway-oriented billboards, must meet the lighting standards in City Code § 10-02-06-12(5): no hazardous glare toward drivers or pedestrians, fully shielded light sources and fixtures, and a hard cap of 750 candelas per square meter, called Nits, for any sign lit at night.

Caldwell Billboard and Sign Lighting Limits

Some Restrictions

Caldwell City Code § 10-02-06-12(5)

Illumination: ... Where illumination of signs is permitted, the following standards shall apply: A. Lighting for signs shall not create a hazardous glare for pedestrians or motorists either in a public street or on any private premises. B. The light source, whether internal to the sign or external, shall be shielded from view. ... ... C. Sign illumination for externally illuminated signs shall ...

Looking for Canyon County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Caldwell city rules.

Outdoor Lighting in Canyon County